The Valley Blue Sox announced Tuesday that Hadley native Fred Ciaglo is the new owner of the team.

Ciaglo, who has been heavily involved with the team for the past seven years, took over the team from previous owner and president, Clark Eckhoff.

Over the past seven years, Ciaglo has hosted Blue Sox players and served as the team's bench coach for the past four seasons. Ciaglo has been a part of baseball in the Pioneer Valley since he began playing at Hopkins Academy in high school. He later attended Springfield College, pitching for a team that won the Northeast-10 Championship in 1986 when the team was a Division II program. He earned his Master's in Education from American International College in 2011.

Ciaglo also has over 20 years of experience in the Tri-County Baseball League and won the Wes Carr Trophy for best pitcher twice. Along with teaching at Hopkins, Ciaglo has also coached boys and girls basketball and baseball at the school, while also spending a decade as the Hadley Youth Baseball program's coaching coordinator and on the Board of Directors for the Cal Ripken level.

"We wish the best to Clark and his family," Ciaglo said. "During their tenure, the Valley Blue Sox won their first championship in franchise history, hosted a successful All-Star Weekend at Mackenzie Stadium and were very supportive of the growth of both the franchise and the game locally."

Hunter Golden, the team's vice president and general manager, will remain in his role, as will skipper John Raiola and pitching coach Jim Woods. Former Blue Sox Hezekiah Randolph will move into the role of hitting coach.

"I'm very proud of what we've been able to achieve under Clark," Golden said. "I'm very excited to see the baton passed to Fred and look forward to seeing things elevated to the next level. He's a true baseball man through and through and I've got every confidence in his ability as the next steward of this franchise."

The Blue Sox won the first championship title in the franchise's history last summer and will once again host the All-Star game this season.

"Everything that people have come to know and love about the team -- from the people to the day-to-day -- will remain the same," Ciaglo said. "We're looking forward to adding more to the fan experience in the coming years, continuing to develop Mackenzie Stadium and keep the ball moving forward. We've made progress every year that I've been involved with the franchise -- and I'm looking forward to continuing that growth and giving fans something new to look for every season."